Abstract: Apparatus for producing fiberboard and the like from fibrous sheeting material by the dry method, in which the fibrous sheeting material is advanced from a forming station while supported on a perforated endless belt to a pressing station where it is compressed to desired thickness and compactness. During the advancement of the sheeting material from the forming station to the pressing station, air is evacuated from the fibrous material by suction from beneath the endless belt while the sheeting is being simultaneously subjected to a preliminary compression, without disturbing the fiber orientation therein, but sufficient to render the sheeting material self-supporting during its further advancement to the pressing station, from which it is passed to cutting station for subdivision into board units.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing pressed board and the like in a tiered multi-opening press in which the blank supporting conveyor plates are moved successively between the loading end and the discharge end along a substantially rectangular split-level track pattern in which the longer side portions are located at a level different from that of the two shorter side portions. The loaded plates are introduced into the press at the level of the side portions and at the discharge end are moved to the level of the shorter end portions and conveyed transversely to the opposite corner of the rectangular track where they are again moved to the level of the side portions and conveyed at this level to the opposite corner where in turn they are moved to the level of the shorter end portions and conveyed transversely to the opposite corner and moved to the level of the side portions where they are re-loaded and re-conveyed to the press.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing pressed board and the like in a tiered, multi-opening press, in which the sheet blanks are deposited individually on conveyor platens which are conveyed by conveyor means successively at predetermined intervals to a stacking device. In the stacking device, a predetermined number of platens with their superposed board blanks are successively raised above the conveyor means into retained contact with one another to form a stacked assembly of platens and board blanks. When the predetermined number of platens and board blanks have been stacked, the assembly is lowered onto the conveyor means and transported to tiered racks in an elevator device by which they are successively elevated into alignment with the tiered openings in the multi-opening press to be pressed into board units in a single pressing operation.

Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for hardboard presses in which a thin metal sheet for supporting the material to be compressed into hardboard is inserted between the pressure plates. The thin metal sheet extends beyond the edges of the press plates and is bent downwardly along two opposing sides thereof to impart substantial rigidity to the overhanging portions and to provide a draining surface for the compressed material. The other two opposing edges of the metal sheet form projections having thickened reinforcement edges.